Cocoa refers to the seeds of the cacao tree, which is cultivated in Central America and Africa. The cacao tree is an evergreen understory tree that can grow up to 12 meters tall and bears fruit year-round; its seeds, embedded in the pulp, are also known as cocoa beans. After harvesting, the fruits are opened, and the seeds begin to ferment, developing the characteristic aromatic cocoa scent. They are then dried and further processed into cocoa mass or cocoa extract.